Asked at his postmatch news conference whether it was important that the team was improving while the club were supposed to be trying to replace him, he said journalists should "remember the first years of Fergie."

"You've spoken with Ed Woodward?" he said. "Why they have to deny [the Mourinho rumours]? I don't interfere neither (sic). So why the club has to deny that, when you are creating stories?

"Okay. So you didn't speak to Ed Woodward, not with the Glazers and you are inventing a story. And then I have to answer this question. I don't answer this question. And I shall repeat myself every week.

"Now I have to say that you are getting the sack tomorrow. What is your name? Then I can announce your name also. Look at your wife, maybe you have children or a nephew or something."

With Diego Costa's equaliser coming in injury time -- referred to as "Fergie time" in the days of the former United boss -- Van Gaal was asked whether opposing teams, rather than his own, were the beneficiaries of late heroics.

"Okay, write what you want to write," Van Gaal said. "Maybe you remember also the first years of Fergie."